Albany's The Linda hosts Dale Watson

Published 2:11 pm, Wednesday, July 8, 2015

After hurdling through love and loss throughout his career, Texas country music veteran Dale Watson continues to play by his own rules.

"It's great to be here in my career and keep doing what I'm doing," said Watson.

Since his 1995 debut album, "Cheatin' Heart Attack," Watson has released one or more albums per year. The self-defined "Ameripolitan" artist will be performing at The Linda in Albany four days after the release of his album, "Call Me Insane."

His latest album features 14 tracks, ranging in mood from "Jonesin' for Jones," a love song about the music of George Jones to "A Day at a Time," about struggling to get by on the road.

The album is the 52-year-old artist's third album in the "Ameripolitan" genre, which combines outlaw, country western, honky-tonk and rockabilly music. In 2013, Watson started the first Ameripolitan Awards. "We didn't have a home. Country music kicked us out," he said.

Watson's discontent with contemporary country music has been present in his music since his very first album in 1995, which included shots fired at the mainstream genre. In previous albums, Watson has stayed loyal to the sound of classic country music. "Carryin' On" (2010) by Watson featured musicians such as Lloyd Green and Hargus ''Pig'' Robbins, who were active before the artist was born.

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If you go:

Where: The Linda: WAMC's Performing Arts Studio

When: 8 p.m., Saturday.

Tickets: $17

He grew up listening to country icons like Willie Nelson (who he later performed with) and Waylon Jennings. "You could make a living just touring Texas," Watson said.

Although much of his attitude reflects the Lone Star State, Watson was born in Birmingham, Ala., and grew up in North Carolina until his family moved to Texas in 1974.

Watson started writing music at the age of 12. He spent several years playing in the Houston area before moving to Los Angeles at the advice of rockabilly artist Rosie Flores in 1988. Watson said, "In Houston they just wanted you to play the Top 40, which wasn't really bad at the time, but I wanted to play some original music."

After producing commercial country music in L.A. and Nashville, Watson moved to Austin in 1993 to reconnect with his Texas roots. "In L.A. and Nashville, you get chastised if you don't perform cookie-cutter music," he said. Watson and his band the Lone Stars scored a deal with Hightone Records.

In 2000, Watson's personal life took an unexpected turn when his fiancee, Terri Herbert, died in a car accident. The musician started abusing drugs and alcohol, leading to a near-fatal overdose that year.

"It was hard to recount that, but I made a promise to myself that I would," he said. After being hospitalized, he wrote the tribute album "Every Song I Write is for You" (2001). Watson also recalled his emotional "breakdown" in the 2006 documentary "Crazy Again."

That documentary was not Watson's first on-screen appearance. Since 1993, when Watson was cast in "The Thing Called Love" starring Sandra Bullock, he has made various film, commercial and television appearances including a 2008 role in "Friday Night Lights,"

Watson has also brought acting to the stage in "Ghost Brothers of Darkland County" (2012). "It felt a little bit like Groundhog Day. You'd do eight shows a week and do the same thing all over again," he recalled.

In 2007, reality star Johnny Knoxville performed in Watson's music video, "Hollywood Hillbilly." "We hit it off right away and have stayed in touch ever since," said Watson. The video also starred Luke Wilson and Watson's daughter, Grace.

Watson's other daughter Raquel recently graduated from the University of Texas after studying performing arts. "It's in the blood I guess," Watson said. The artist took a two-year hiatus in 2004 to get closer to his daughters.

In 2005, Watson was inducted into the Austin Music Hall of Fame. The following year, Watson returned to performing at local Austin gigs.

"Call Me Insane" was recorded in Austin with members of the Lone Stars, who will be on tour with Watson this Saturday at The Linda.

Watson will not use a set list for his July 13 performance. "[The audience] is the most important part of the show. Everything they give to me, I'll throw it right back to them," he said.